canon gasket care

[scottg541]

I know this one has been talked about before, but wondering how many people take those canon gaskets out everytime and how many leave them in.

I was between both schools of thought on the subject and it caused some flooding. Canon's manual that comes with housing isn't really specific about that aspect of care and provides very little direction. Other than you shouldn't leave it closed with the gasket in.

I guess my main concern here is shape memory of the gasket, should it have it or no?

 

[shellbackdiver1]

I take gasket out after a weekend of diving, clean it with my fingers and then leave it in the closed camera case. Prior to diving I re-insert the gasket.

 

[cowjazz]

I'm a little paranoid. After a dive I clean, inspect and lube the o-ring, and then seal it in a plastic food saver vacuum bag. It keeps the o-ring flat, and prevents it from developing a memory in the shape of the housing.

 

[scottg541]

I'm a little paranoid. After a dive I clean, inspect and lube the o-ring, and then seal it in a plastic food saver vacuum bag. It keeps the o-ring flat, and prevents it from developing a memory in the shape of the housing.

This is where i'm torn... Canon sells the housing with the gasket installed, when i pulled out my new one it already looked like it had some memory of that position... Even so i will probably start going the way that you're saying, taking it out.

My last camera was flooded because i tried to overcome this memory problem by re installing in a way that didn't agree with the memory it developed.

I know i'm over thinking this, but i just shelled out some good bucks for a new camera.

Thanks,
Scott

 

[MSP Rescue Diver]

Is it so bad for the gasket to develop a memory? It fits back OK after greasing so I don't see a problem. I haven't had one in three years with three different gaskets.

Marc

 

[cowjazz]

I have not had the guts to experiment. The camera store where I purchased my housing and camera suggested I avoid allowing the o-ring to develop a memory, and the same was repeated at my LDS. Could a problem arise if your o-ring has a memory, and is not put back to conform to the memory? Maybe a gap could develop between the o-ring and the housing where sand or debris could make a home, resulting in a leak. Maybe it is possible to pinch the area of the o-ring with a memory in the housing when you close it. I really don't know why I got the doom and gloom about o-rings developing a memory. I'm just tossing out a few paranoid thoughts. As you stated, if it is placed to conform with the memory, I think all would be well. Any experienced photographers out there care to chime in?

 

[Enigmatic]

For the vast majority of people, the housing will actually be in storage 99% of its life. Your method of storage will invariably effect its usable lifetime and camera safety, in my experience. I've been diving with all sorts of marine enclosures for more than 20 years. I've seen my share of floods, but each one came down to a failure of the primary o-ring.

What I prefer to do, and has worked flawlessly thus far (knock on wood), has been to store the o-ring separately with a light coating of grease. The ones I've seen fail, across all brands, developed "flat" sides against the grooves in the housing when stored on the housing for long periods. These flat sides don't exert the same pressure against the housing as the o-ring did when it was new. I've also noticed that the o-rings that develop a memory to the housing tend to be more prone to leak anywhere there's a pronounced bend in the housing shape such as the corners of the WP-DC90, which I own. The compressed o-rings with their flat sides tend to develop in those tight bends first.

Another way to look at it is that you have to remove the o-ring to properly grease it before use, and then again to clean and grease it for storage. So why put it right back on the housing for storage causing more wear and tear, and stretching, when you can just put it in a ziploc until the next time you use the housing?

...just my two cents worth.

 

[cowjazz]

Another way to look at it is that you have to remove the o-ring to properly grease it
...just my two cents worth.

You sound advice is worth more than two cents. I'd up it to $600.

Thank you for chiming in.

 

[jcclink]

Those that are paranoid about o-rings retaining a shape (memory) when they are left in the housing should also think about removing all the little control o-rings & storing them in a similar manner between dive days. Just something to think about. Use buna o-rings & just replace them every 1-2 years, then chill with a nice glass of merlot. (You don't always have to remove an o-ring to clean it, but do so when required.)

 

[Tortuga Roja]

Those that are paranoid about o-rings retaining a shape (memory) when they are left in the housing should also think about removing all the little control o-rings & storing them in a similar manner between dive days. Just something to think about.

I would agree that "memory" is not something to get too worried about but I don't think it's without merit either. Memory could be a problem like any kink in an o-ring. When you feel it - replace it to be safe.

Ok, I thought about it like you asked and... while a large rectangular o-ring with both straight lines and small curves can develop a memory, I don't know how a small, perfectly round o-ring would have a memory problem.